Heart Rate Monitors

[Tuckervill]

Mine was very useful for weight loss. I bought it because I would plateau quite frequently and I needed some hard(er) data to figure out where the problem was without driving to a large city to get all the testing done. It worked in the same way having a kitchen scale to measure my food did. Whether either of the relatively inexpensive devices were accurate according to some ANSI standards, I wasn't comparing against ANSI standards. They were measuring tools which I could use to measure against themselves in the context of my whole plan. Seeing that hard data helped me with weight loss.

Karen

[ny biker]

When I first got my HRM, I had fun wearing it while I was sleeping to get my true resting heart rate. I usually wake up once or twice before the alarm clock goes off, so for a few days I kept the HRM on the nightstand, and when I would wake up an hour or so before the alarm, I would put the chest strap on and go back to sleep. Then when the alarm went off I would check what my heart rate was for that hour or so. It was in the low-mid 50s, whereas my "resting heart rate" during the day is in the 60s.

[OakLeaf]

When I first got my HRM, I had fun wearing it while I was sleeping to get my true resting heart rate. I usually wake up once or twice before the alarm clock goes off, so for a few days I kept the HRM on the nightstand, and when I would wake up an hour or so before the alarm, I would put the chest strap on and go back to sleep. Then when the alarm went off I would check what my heart rate was for that hour or so. It was in the low-mid 50s, whereas my "resting heart rate" during the day is in the 60s.

I'd really like to try that but I'm afraid the strap will be so uncomfortable I won't fall asleep. Like I said, I'm a total data geek.

[woohoo]

Sleeping heart rate? I'll be trying that!

I'm a data geek as well, and have always found having an HRM helpful. Mine wasn't too expensive, it's a polar s150. I bought it for running a few years ago but like having it for the turbo as I use a cycling workout plan that combines rate of perceived exertion with hear rate. For me, seeing the heart rate values all the time on the trainer has helped me "tune-up" my perceived exertion so that when I'm outside riding and not looking at the data so much, I'm still getting the same benefit from cycling. I can't comment on how much this would help with weight loss specifically, but it's really helped me get my fitness level up...

L : )

[tctrek]

I have a Polar RS800 and I wear it constantly when I ride or exercise. My goal is weight loss and I have found that my body gets rid of fat better when I work out at 65% of my max heart rate. I also use it for interval training, I'm absolutely addicted to my polar. I also have a polar mounted on my bike. Sometimes I ignore the high heart rates because I'm having fun, but I pay attention to it when I want to concentrate on fat burning zone.

[tulip]

I use (or used) my very basic Polar HRM in spinning class. It helped me stay in my target zone. Interestingly, I found that I was able to slow down because I was often over my target zone.

Unfortunately, I inadvertently left the wrist part on the spin bike at the gym a few weeks back, and so I only have the strap. Anyone know if I can just get another wrist part, or do I have to buy them together?

[Aggie_Ama]

I think it may help you realize you aren't getting as hard of a workout from riding and maybe adjust your eating? Or maybe you are getting a hard workout and not fueling enough.

I found I gained a lot of weight when I didn't run because I thought I was riding hard and therefore I was eating a lot. My perception of how much 4 hours of riding really was working was off. I don't know if the HRM helps, I have lost 25 lbs since getting mine. I also started running again and have paid more attention to my food choices. It can be a tool to add to your arsenal but won't get you there alone.